Women of the Adept Universe, Phase One

Okay, the epically talented, and ever-lovely Memo made us a treat!! Okay, she made me a treat but I thought you all might like it as well. Squee!!!

The Women of the Adept Universe – Phase One:

From left to right: Kandy (werewolf), Scarlett (witch), Jade (dowser/alchemist), Pearl (witch), Mory (necromancer), Burgundy (witch/healer), Gabby (amplifier), and Peggy (telepath).

Guess what my new desktop photo is???!!! 🙂

New to the Adept Universe? The first book Cupcakes, Trinkets, and Other Deadly Magic (Dowser 1) is currently free on all platforms. Click here for the full reading order.

Waiting on the next book in the Adept universe? Idols and Enemies (Amplifier 4) is coming soon!! Subscribe to my mailing list to make sure you never miss a new release!

Adept Universe Bible: Mory’s sketches

Morana “Mory” Novak: Necromancer. Soul seer. Junior specialist for the witches’ Convocation. The wielder’s necromancer. Purple hair, naturally ash brown. With shades of blue in Dowser 7. In Oracle 3, it was sunset-dyed. In Misfits 1, her hair is a deep purple streaked with pink and light blue. Large dark brown eyes, round cheeks, short and petite. “Pixie-like.” Brother: Rusty (d). Mother: Danica. Father was a witch, descended from the founding members of the Godfrey coven, who died before she was born. DOB: February 8, 1998. 15 years old in Dowser 2, 19 in Dowser 7, 21 in Misfits 1. Obsessed with knitting. Lives in a weathered cream-colored Georgian manor in Shaughnessy, with a laurel hedge, wrought iron fence, marble entrance way, massive library, and eight bedrooms. Empty pool, and an overgrown yard. Apprenticed to Pearl, head of the Convocation. Graduated the Academy in 2019. Best friends with Burgundy, witch. According to Jade, her magic tastes like toasted marshmallows with a candied violet undertone. Objects of power: a heavy linked silver chain and thinner flat-linked gold chain, with a jade stone in a cage made from gold bangles, made by Jade, and modified into a coin-ladened necklace by Dowser 7. Dead red-eared slider named Ed, animated with Mory’s power and further enhanced when Jade bled all over him in Dowser 9. Knitting needles that amplify her own ability to wield soul magic.

Mory first appeared in Trinkets, Treasures, and Other Bloody Magic (Dowser 2) as well as the other books in the Dowser series. She narrates the first novella in Graveyards, Visions, and Other Things that Byte (Dowser 8.5), and is the main character in Misplaced Souls (Misfits 1).

Mory. Necromancer. Soul Seer. On her favourite tombstone in Mountain View Cemetery aka her claimed territory. With Ed. Swathed in knitting. *Sketch by* Memo.

*Mory. Necromancer. Soul Seer. Knitting forever after. Wearing her T-shirt designed by Kandy. Sketch by* Memo.

*Mory. Necromancer. Soul Seer. Wearing her favourite red poncho with the beaded fringe. With Ed. Sketch by* Memo.

Ed. Mory’s undead familiar. Capable of turning himself invisible at will, but definitely not a jumper. Likes to wear a mouse skull as a hat. Sketch by Memo.

*Mory’s necklace. A magical artifact that protects her from malicious magic (or intent), created by Jade. Sketch by* Memo.

Misfits 1: wallpapers: Mory & Ed

Memo, the illustrator who is working on the sketches for the Adept Universe bible, made some wallpapers of Mory and Ed from Misplaced Souls (Misfits 1). She formatted each of the following images for Android, iPhone X, older Phone, and tablet/desktop. Clicking on the corresponding link below each sketch should take you to the full-sized image, and there you can download it to your computer/phone/tablet.

Well, in theory … so let’s give it a try!

Click on the link for: Android, iPhone X, older iPhone, Tablet/Desktop (landscape).

Click on the link for: Android, iPhone X, older iPhone, Tablet/Desktop (landscape).

Click on the link for: Android, iPhone X, older iPhone, Tablet/Desktop (landscape).

I pulled some ‘How To’s’ off the web as well, but please do a little Googling if you need more help (I’m not a tech guru by any means):

How to download an image onto my Android device.

How to download an image onto my iPhone. < this is a really old article but I believe it still works.

How to download an image onto my desktop.

Feel free to share these images on your social media pages as well. You can use the tags: #AdeptUniverse or #MisfitsOfTheAdeptUniverse #MeghanCianaDoidge, etc, etc.

Misplaced Souls (Misfits of the Adept Universe 1) releases tomorrow (April 14, 2020)!!

Misfits 1: the knitting

Mory knits. Rather obsessively. And I thought it might be fun to share some of the patterns she either knits or wears in Misplaced Souls (Misfits 1).

Mory’s go-to hat pattern: Snap by Tin Can Knits. Mory is knitting a slouch version of this hat with her own [K4/P4] check pattern thrown in for fun throughout Misfits 1. I’ve knit several Snap Hats myself and you can see them on my Ravelry page. I will also be giving away a couple of hats (cashmere!!) when I get my hands on the paperbacks for Misfits 1.

Mory’s go-to pattern for self-striping socks: Smooth Operator by Susan B. Anderson. Mory is wearing rainbow socks, like these:

MCD’s Smooth Operator’s knit in Gauge Dye Works, White Light colour way. Ravelry Page.

Mory’s self-striping arm warmers: Palmistry by Stephanie Lotven. Mory is knitting a longer version than called for in the pattern in Misfits 1 with a skein of Black-Hearted Brimstone from MudPunch yarns. I’ll be giving away some self-striping yarn in May when I get Misfit 1 paperbacks.

My longer version of Palmistry, knit for author friend, Coralie Moss. Ravelry Project Page.

Mory’s large purple/pink/blue shawl: The Drifter by Tamy Gore. I haven’t knitted my version yet but this is the yarn I’m going to use:

I think I will start this shawl on release day! Yarn is from Black Cat.

Other knitwear/patterns mentioned:

Pearl Godfrey’s (light gray) Estonia lace shawl: Echo Flower Shawl by Jenny Johnson Johnen

Mory’s colorwork (mostly black with purple and light gray) sweater that she wears to lunch: Gardengate by Jennifer Steingass

Burgundy is wearing lace socks that Mory knit for her birthday: Spring Forward by Linda Welch

In the final scenes of Misfits 1, Mory is attemtping to learn the brioche stitch: Plumpy by Andrea Mowry.

Fun! Fun!

– AMAZON – APPLE BOOKS – KOBO – BARNES & NOBLE – SMASHWORDS –

New to the Adept Universe? The first book is Cupcakes, Trinkets, and Other Deadly Magic (Dowser 1). Or click here for the entire reading order.

Misfits 1: cover reveal & synopsis

Are you really ready?

Oh, yes?

Well, then! The Misfits of the Adept Universe return in Misplaced Souls … on APRIL 14, 2020!!! YES!!! Taking place eighteen months after the events of Dowser 9, Mory launches a new series!

– AMAZON – APPLE BOOKS – KOBO – BARNES & NOBLE – SMASHWORDS –

Synopsis: Six years, three months, and two days ago, I was kidnapped by a black witch. Then forced to bear witness as she slaughtered witches and sorcerers across Europe, siphoning their magic and corrupting what she could of my own power in order to raise vanquished demons.

Five years, ten months, and twenty days ago, the dowser — Jade Godfrey — backed by a vampire, a werewolf, and a dragon, rescued me in London, England. A lethal quartet, who routinely flung themselves before death in order to save the world. Including me.

One year, nine months, and twenty-eight days ago, I untangled the power that fueled a dimensional portal used by an invading army of elves, helping to thwart a dark destiny while confirming that I wielded far more than basic necromancy.

After all I’d been through, the same powerful Adepts who had rescued me and worked alongside me waited, watching minute by minute. To see if the evil I’d endured was contagious. Because for a witch to go dark was one thing. But for a necromancer, going dark was something far more terrifying.

What with the potential for raising an army of the undead and all.

Six years, three months, two days, and five minutes …

Still not dark yet.

—————————

Misplaced Souls is the first book in the Misfits of the Adept Universe series, which is set in the same universe as the Dowser, Oracle, Reconstructionist, and Amplifier series.

The Misfits series directly expands on and incorporates the events and characters first introduced in the Dowser series. Therefore, for the best reading experience, the author recommends reading all nine books in the Dowser series, including Dowser 8.5, before digging into the Misfit tales. The first book of the Dowser series is Cupcakes, Trinkets, and Other Deadly Magic.

Upcoming posts: Chapter one, part one. The cupcakes featured in Misfits 1. Envy in a Cup (recipe). The knitting featured in Misfits 1. Plus wallpapers/character sketches! FUN! FUN!!

Click here for the full reading order of the Adept Universe.

Misfits 1: A snippet of Ed

As I was working through my final read of Misfits 1 (before sending it to the proofreader), this made me smile:

Ed was perched on the edge of Tony’s desk, looking as though he was contemplating leaping off to get to me. He was wearing what appeared to be a tiny pirate hat on his head. I peered closer. The hat had been meticulously folded out of a bubblegum wrapper and secured with an elastic band.

“Tony,” I groaned.

Tony swiveled, glancing at Ed, then at me, grinning. “He likes it.”

–Misplaced Souls (Misfits of the Adept Universe 1)

*Ed – the undead red-earred slider familiar of a necromancer (aka Mory) – from the Dowser and the Misfits of the Adept Universe series. Illustration by Memo (*Instagram)

Misfits 1: off for story editing

I’m about to be sipping a hot chocolate, knitting by the fire, and enjoying a fav audiobook – One Fell Sweep, Innkeeper 3, by Ilona Andrews – but first, I wanted to share an excerpt to celebrate Misfits 1 being sent off for story editing (aka developmental editing) – YAY!

The snippet below is one of Michael’s fav (nonspoiler) moments from the book.

Mountain View Cemetary, Vancouver, BC. October 2019

He reached for me. And, as if it was the most natural thing in the world, I wrapped my arm around his again, leaning into him for comfort.

“Thank you,” he murmured. “For breaking the rules. For me.”

“Misfits unite!” I declared quietly, trying to jest but not quite making it work.

He snorted. “Misfits. Right. I’m not sure how I got grouped in with the rest of you though.”

“I didn’t write the club guidelines,” I groused. “I just enforce them. Hence having your back.”

– Misplaced Souls (Misfits 1), chapter one, third draft (unedited/unproofed).

Dowser 8.5: Mory: yarn giveaway

GIVEAWAY CLOSED. THE WINNER HAS BEEN EMAILED.

To help celebrate the week leading up to the release of Graveyards, Visions, and Other Things that Byte (Dowser 8.5), I’ve put together three giveaways (not including whatever I cobble together for my live reading over on Facebook on release day, August 23 at 4pm PDT). I’ll keep all three giveaways open through release day so everyone has time to enter.

The first giveaway is for a skein of self-stripping, merino twist fingering weight yarn (80% superwash merino wool and 20% nylon) from a favourite (and local) dyer, Gauge Dyeworks.

I think that these colours match Mory’s knitting preferences perfectly. I’ll include the two sets of stitch markers pictured as well.

This skein of the classic-striping White Light (<– click the link to see pictures of it knit up) colourway is perfect for socks or arm warmers or a thin striped hat. I’ve knit all three items with yarn from the same dyer.

So … are you interested in giving this gorgeous skein a home?

Yes?

Well, then!

Comment below to enter to win a skein of self-striping, fingering weight yarn and stitch markers.

Fun! Fun!!

Likes and shares are always welcomed and appreciated.

Notes/Rules: OPEN INTERNATIONALLY. One entry per person. One winner will be selected by random number generator. Email addresses are not collected for any purpose other than to contact the winner. No purchase necessary.

Giveaway closes THURSDAY AUGUST 23, 2018 at midnight PDT.

Are you new to the Adept Universe? Book one is Cupcakes, Trinkets, and Other Deadly Magic (Dowser 1).

Click here for the reading order of the Adept Universe.

COMING AUGUST 23, 2018

PREORDER NOW

AMAZON – iBOOKS – KOBO – B&N – SMASHWORDS

Dowser 8.5: Who is Freddie?

“Who is Freddie?” Liam asked, folding his arms and glancing sternly between Jasmine and me.

“A shadow leech.”

“What the hell is a shadow leech?”

“Freddie.”

Liam swore under his breath.

I stifled a smirk.

–Mory, Graveyards, Visions, and Other Things that Byte (Dowser 8.5)

COMING AUGUST 23, 2018

PREORDER NOW

AMAZON – iBOOKS – KOBO – B&N – SMASHWORDS

Are you new to the Adept Universe? Book one is Cupcakes, Trinkets, and Other Deadly Magic (Dowser 1).

Click here for the reading order of the Adept Universe.

The boss has scheduling privileges.

I know, I know, I made this big announcement about how I was going to cut back and refocus, including taking Saturday mornings off. And then I worked all day last Saturday (I really, really just wanted to get the first draft of Dowser 8 done) and now I want to spend more time with Mory (aka the opening novella of Dowser 8.5) this morning.

But being self-employed has to have some benefits, doesn’t it? And tomorrow I’ll reward myself with a chocolate milkshake and buying/planting a pear tree (I’ll try to remember to take a picture. It’s a two combo espalier and I’m planting it in the raised garden bed outside my office window).

And really, the recycling/groceries/mail can totally wait. Ahem, ah, yeah, confession time, if you won a copy of Dowser 7 from me like a long time ago, I still haven’t managed to get it in the mail. Sorry! But the padded envelopes I needed finally showed up yesterday, so the paperbacks will be on their way soon!

Now where did I leave Mory … oh, yes, Mountain View Cemetery. Where else would she be?